Conakry - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I just use cash. Credit cards are used at the large grocery stores. ATMs are rare and I never use them. - Sep 2022
Conakry is largely a cash economy, which is inconvenient, since the largest bill is worth only US$2. So be prepared to carry big bricks of cash around in a manila envelope if you have a big purchase. This is annoying for its inconvenience, but luckily Conakry is a very safe place, so you don't have to worry much about getting mugged. Hotels and supermarkets accept credit cards, and there are ATMs you'll get to know in specific spots of the city. These ATMs sometimes don't work or run out of cash, though they'll never straightup steal your money. Many Embassies offer check cashing to employees, which is your best bet for big sums. You can then use the cash to do a local Orange money transfer (or you can even electronic transfers from your home country bank) for things like paying your household staff without their risking losing their cash in the taxi or something. - Jun 2021
No, credit cards are not widely accepted and I would generally not use them. Some of the expat grocery stores take them and using them there is generally safe. No, don't use any ATMs. - Nov 2019
You don't use them. - May 2016
Cash economy. - Dec 2014
There are no ATMs that I know of. It is mostly a cash economy. - Sep 2009
There are only abouttwo in the country and they are not reliable. It is definitely a cash economy. - May 2009
The larger hotels accept credit cards, but it's best to use cash even at the hotels. Avoid ATMs. - Mar 2008
